The Urgency of Crisis Communication in Responding to Sexual Harassment: Maintaining the University’s Image and Trust

Abstract

The alleged sexual harassment case at a university highlights the complexity of crisis management in higher education, especially in religious-based institutions. This crisis not only involves personal ethical violations, but also shows the weakness of effective crisis communication governance in the face of public pressure. This study aims to analyze the institutional response of the university in dealing with the sexual harassment crisis, identify the role of the public in the escalation of the crisis, and evaluate its impact on the institution's reputation. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with a conceptual study design based on literature and documentation studies. Data sources were obtained from scientific journals, government policies, online media coverage, and official documents of relevant institutions. The results of the study show that UNUGO has not implemented a transparent, empathetic, and accountable crisis communication system. The absence of public clarification, minimal institutional openness, and the dominance of symbolic administrative defenses increases pressure from internal and external publics. Media attention, pressure from civil society organizations, and moral pressure from religious institutions accelerated the damage to the institution's reputation. This study offers novelty by examining the interaction between institutional silence, weak internal crisis management, and the absence of public communication in the crisis of sexual harassment on campuses based on religious values. These findings recommend the importance of improving institutional crisis management systems, strengthening victim protection mechanisms, and developing adaptive crisis communication strategies to restore public trust in the long term.